Join Bob Ford as we go back to our roots on a short break in the wonderful county of Dorset, at one of its very best hotels. South Dorset with the Isle of Portland sticking out into the English Channel includes some of the best sites in Britain – and some would say Europe – to witness the spectacle of bird migration.

ItineraryFurther infoTour reports

Itinerary

Day 1Arrive at hotel on Isle of Portland; at leisure

Make your own way to The Heights Hotel.

Note that rail travellers can be met at Weymouth station between 1700 and 1800.

Accommodation: The Heights Hotel, 3-nights on full board basis

Day 2Birding & wildlife excursions around South Dorset

Each spring and autumn thousands of migrants break their long journeys by resting on Portland's fields and along the shoreline. The fields and hedges at this time can be alive with warblers, chats and flycatchers, with wheatears on the open fields.

Offshore, seabirds such as skuas and shearwaters stream past the tip of Portland – ‘the Bill’ – en route to their Arctic breeding areas. Some, such as the puffin, stop to breed on Portland's high cliffs, along with a growing population of peregrine falcons and ravens. Portland is also famous for producing a surprise or two!

The RSPB reserves at Radipole and Lodmoor are nearby with their breeding bearded tits and Cetti's warblers.

Day 3Depart hotel for journey home

The tour ends after lunch today.

What’s included

All prices are per person and include:

Services of the naturalist leader

Accommodation

Meals

Guided activities

Further tour info

Accommodation

The Heights Hotel is one of Dorset's best-situated hotels, high on the Portland cliffs overlooking Portland Harbour and Weymouth.

All rooms are en suite.

Meals

All meals are included. Breakfast and dinner are taken in the hotel, and picnic lunches are provided by the hotel.

Birds

The fields and hedges at this time can be alive with warblers, chats and flycatchers, with wheatears on the open fields.

Bearded tit

Cetti's warbler

Peregrine falcon

Puffin

Offshore, seabirds such as skuas and shearwaters stream past the tip of Portland en route to their Arctic breeding areas.

Ground transport

Travel to/from Dorset is not included. Rail travellers can be met at Weymouth station between 1700 and 1800.

In particular, please note: It is a condition of joining our holidays that you must be fully insured against medical and personal accident risks. We strongly recommend having insurance in place from the point of booking confirmation, with adequate cancellation protection to cover your deposit.

I as lead traveller have read and accept The Travelling Naturalist’s conditions of booking on behalf of all people party to this booking.